Color-printing apparatus



(No Model.)

' 'I'. BICKFORD.

ooLoR PRINTING APPARATUS. No. 456,466. Patented July 21, 1891.

l UNITED STATns PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS BICKFORD, OF BRANFORD, CONNECTICUT.

COLOR-PRINTiNG APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N0. 456,466, dated July 21, 1891.

l Application led May 6, 1890. Serial No. 350,802. (No model.)

To aZZ whom t may concern.-

Be it known that I, THOMAS BICKFORD, of Branford, county of New Haven, State of Connecticut, have invented an Improvement in Color-Printing Apparatus, of which the following' description, in connection with the accompanyingdrawings,isaspecification,like letters on the drawings representing like parts. l

My invention is embodied in a printingapparatus of that kind, in which sheets are printed having portions of the impression in an ink of different colors from that used on the remainder of the sheet, the object being to provide a simple, durable, and eiiicient ap-A paratus capable of ready application to presses of ordinary construction, by which a section ot' the type or stereotype-plate may be inked with an ink of different color from the remainder of the type.

The invention is embodied in an apparatu comprising a chase or frame which may be set up at any desired position in the main body of the type, the said chase containinga movable type-form and support therefor, on which the type-form may be supported with its printing-face at different levels, said form being laterally movable in the chase to change it from a higher toa lower level and operating in combination with a special inking de vice, shown in this instance as comprising an inking-roller supported in a' movable frame normally a short distance above the face of the type on the bed of the press, said rollerframe being provided with a magnet which may be either a permanent steel magnet or an electro-magnet, the poles of which extend toward the type-face and co-operate with armatures on the movable type-form and also on the chase if necessary, by which, when the said form travels below said inking mechanism, the latter is drawn down by the attraction of the magnet, bringingits inking-roll to the level of the type, said magnet also operating to raise the movable type-form as the latter is approaching the point where the impression is made, thus bringing it into position to be acted upon by the special inkingroll and also to make its impression, while the same device acts, when the bed is moving in the opposite direction, to lower the movable type-form, so that itpasses the main inkingrolls without receiving ink therefrom.

In the apparatus shown for illustrating the invention the special inking-roller has a downward movement for the purpose of inking the special typesection, which is at the general type level while heilig inked; but it is obvious that it is essential only that the special type-section and its hiking-roller shall have such movement or such changes in relative position that the special inking-roller shall not touch the general type, but shall touch the special type-section, and the said specialtype'section mustnot touch the general inking-rollers, but must be at general type level when passing the impression-rollers.

Figure l is a diagram View showing in longitudinal sectional elevation a sufficient portion of a printing-press to illustrate this invention; Fig. 2, a longitudinal section of the chase and movable typeform, showing also a portion of the special inking mechanism; Fig. 3, a plan view thereof; Fig. 4, a transverse section of the movable type-form and special inking mechanism; Fig. 5, a perspective view thereof, and Fig. (5 a transverse sectional elevation of the chase and movable type-form having a slightly modified construction.

The invention may be employed in connection with a press of any suitable or usual construction, being shown in Fig. l as applied to a press having a flat reciprocating bed a, that supports the usual type or printing plate b, and which, when moving in the direction of the arrow, causes the said type, previously inked, to pass beneath the impression-roll c, by which the impression is made on the sheet CZ, which may be fed to the press in any suitable or usual manner. Then the bed a is moved back in the direction opposite to that of the arrow in Fig. l., after the impression has been made, the type pass beneath the usual inking-rolls e and have the ink applied to their printing-surfaces preparatory to making the next impression in the usual manner.

ln order to provide for printing a section of type occupying any desired part of the main printing-surface in accordance with the present invention the special typeform or printing-surface that is to make its impres-4 sion in a different color is contained in a IOC chase 0r frame f, provided with a support f2 for the special type-section g, said support being shown as au inclined ledge, which, in the construction shown in Figs. 2,3, and 4, is at the lower edge of a groove formed in the end portions f3 of the chaseand receives a corresponding projection or ange g2 at the lower edge of the movable type-section g, which is capable of sliding freely on the said support from one to the other side ot the chase and in such movement has its printing-surface raised and lowered slightly, as will be readily understood from Fig. 4t, in which it is shown in full lines in highest position and in dotted lines in lower position. The chase f is a trifle lower than the main printing-surface b, as shown in Fig. l, and the movement of the type-form or printing-section g therein is such as to bring its printing surface up to the level of the main printingsurface b, when such special type-form is in highest position on the support f2, and to carry it below the level of the main printingsurface b when in lowest position, so that as the chase fpasses the main inking-rollers e, with the movable section gin lowest position, it receives no ink from the main inkingrollers.

In the construction shown in Fig. 6 the movable type-section has a slightly different connection with the chase, being connected therewith by a pair of parallel links h at each end, which determine its movement in passing from the highest to the lowest position on the support f2, which in this construction is merely a shoulder or ledge formed on the end pieces of the chase.

In order to provide the special inking-section g with ink of a different color from that supplied to the main printing-surface l) by the inking-rollers e, a special inking mechanism is used, which is supported on a crossbeam t', applied to the frame-work of the press between the impression device c and the main inking-rollers e, as shown in Fig. l, the said mechanism being connected with a carriage k, which may be adjusted on said beam i transversely of the press by any suitable means, as by a screw-shaft k2, working in a vthread formed in the said carriage k or a nut connected therewith, so as to bring the special inking mechanism supported on the said carriage l: in line with the chase f wherever it may be desired to set up the latter in the main printing-surface. The said carriage l7c supports a vertically-movable frame m, provided with one or more magnets m2, which may be either permanent magnets or electro-magnets, it being essential only that their poles m3 should stand nearly over the ends of the chase f3and of the special section gas thelatter passes beneath them in the movement of the bed a of the press, the position of said poles being indicated in dotted lines at fm2, Fig. 3.

The frame m is provided with guides n, working in suitable guideways in the carriage 7c, and is acted upon by a spring or springs n2, tending to keep the entire frame raised, so that the poles of the magnet and the periphery of the special hiking-roller 0 (which is also supported in suitable bearings on or connected with said frame m) normally stand a short distance above the level of the main printing-surface b, so that thelatter may pass beneath the said special inking mechanism without receiving from its roll o, which may be supplied with ink of a different colorfrom that applied to the main rolls e in any usual manner.

As the special inking-section is usually small and usually prints in colored aniliue ink, the special inking-roller o may be made mainly of felting or absorbent material, capable of retaining a sufficient supply of ink for the number of impressions required without any further ink-reservoir, although the special section is not necessarily limited to any specific size, and any suitable or usual device may be employed for supplying the special inking-roller 0 with ink.

From the description thus far described it will be understood that in the construction shown the special type-section g must be at the general type level on its support in the chase when passing under the impression-roll c in order to make its impression, and also that the special inking-roller o must be moved downward when .the special type-section g is passing beneath it in order to apply ink thereto, and should be moved downward only at this time in order that it may not ink the main printing-surface h. These operations are eitected by providing at or near the end portions f3 of the chase pieces of iron to constitute an armature for the magnet m2, so that when the chase passes Abeneath the poles of the magnet the attraction draws the magnet and its frame downward, overcoming the springs m2, and also drawing the roller o downward, practically to the level of the main printing-surface h, although at this time none of the main printing-surface will be beneath said roll. As shown in this instance the end pieces f3 of the chase are made of iron. The special type-form is also raised and lowered by the magnetic attraction ot the magnet m2, said type-form being provided with one or more pieces g3 g4 of iron, which also act as an armature for said magnet, which tends to hold and retain said armature beneath its poles.

The inclination of the supporting-shoulder f2 for the movable type-form is such that its lowest end is forward when the end is mov-V ing in the'direction of the arrow, Fig. l, and, assuming that the type-formgis in its lowest position-i e., dotted-line position, Fig. 4- when it arrives beneath the poles of the magnet the attraction of the latter on the said armature g3 will tend to hold the type-form g beneath the said magnet, and as the press continues its movement in the direction of the arrow the type-form g will have a relative rearward movement and will pass from the IOL'.

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lower to the higher portion of the supportingshoulder, so that its surface is brought to the level of the main printing-surface Z9, and is also acted upon by the special inking-roller o. As the chase is carried by the movement of the bed a beyond the poles of the magnet toward the inking-roli o, the magnet is no longer attracted and the springs n2 immediately raise the frame m, so that the roll o does not come in contact with any of the main printing-surfaceb. The chase is then carried by the bed a beneath the impression-roll c,

with the special section g remaining in highest position, so that it makes the impression on the sheet d, as required. In the return movement of the bed a', after the impression has been made, the magnetic attraction again draws the frame m downward and the attraction between the magnet and the armature again tends to retain the special section beneath the poles of the magnet or to move it in what is then the rearward direction on the chase f, thus carrying it from the lowest position, so that it passes beneath the main inking-rolls Without receiving ink therefrom.

With the construction of the movable typeform and support illustrated in Figs. 2, 3, 4, and 5 the iron armature-piece g;s extends lengthwise of the movable type-form, reaching from the eld of one to the field ot the opposite pole of the magnet, and the inkingroller o is set a short distance at one side of the poles of the magnet, so as to engage with the surface of the special inking-section after it has been raised by the action of the magnet, as just described.

In the construction shown in Fig. (l, in which the type-form is connected with the chase by links, the type-form may be provided with two iron pieces g4, one at each end, in the position shown in dotted lines, Fig. 3, asin this construction the action of the magnet in lifting the type-form is more of a direct lifting action than in the construction shown in the other figures.

It is obvious that the Whole chase may be made of iron to act as an armature for the magnet, or that the iron may be coniined to any desired portion in order to insure the proper up-and-down movement of the special inking mechanism with relation to the traversing movement of the bed below, or the attraction of the magnet with the armaturepieces g4 may be suihcient to both depress the frame m and operate the special type-section, in which case it will not be necessary to provide additional armature-pieces on the chase itself.

The invention is not limited to the specific features of construction shown in all particulars, the main essential features being the operation of the special type-section and its inking mechanism with relation to the main printing-surface by magnetic action so controlled that the special inking mechanism is Vout of the way of the main printing-surface and does not ink the same, and also the operation of the movable type-section by magnetic action so controlled that the said type-section is below type level in passing the main inking-rolls, so as not to receive ink therefrom, but is brought up 'to type level when passing the point at which the impression is made and is brought into contact with the special inking-roller while passing the same.

I claiml. The combination of a chase provided with inclined shoulders extending wholly across the same with atype-section supported on said shoulders, said type-section being narrower than the chase and movable therein from the lower to the higher end of said supporting-shoulders, substantially as described.

2. The combination of the chase and movable type-section therein, the chase having a portion composed of iron, with a special inking-roll and supporting-frame therefor, movable toward and from the bed of the press, and a magnet on said frame for which the iron portion of said chase constitutes an armature, substantially as described.

3. The combination of the chase with a movable type -form contained within said chase, said type-form being provided with an iron portion combined with a magnet which co-operates with the iron portion of said typeform to raise and lower it in said chase, substantially as described.

a. The combination of the chase provided with an inclined support, of the type-form contained Within the said chase and movable from one to another position on said support, said type-form bei-ng provided with an iron portion, combined with a special inking-roll and a movable support therefor provided with a magnet which co-operates with the iron portion of said `type-form, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

THOMAS BICKFORD. Witnesses:

Jos. P. LIVERMORE, M. E. HILL.

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